“And, by George, you are right, my boy, this time, though you are a 'special,'” said the doctor, grinning. “Yes, I was standing by the fellow's bunk when I heard Crawford call for another bottle of soda. Robinson got it for him, and bang went the cork, of course; a faint smile stole over the haggard features, my boy, the glassy eyes opened full of intelligence and with a mine of pleasant recollections. That familiar sound of the popping of the cork acted as the link you talk of. He saw all in a moment, and tried to put out his hand to me. 'My boy,' I said, 'you've behaved most handsomely, and I'll get you a glass of brandy out of another bottle, but don't you try to speak for another day.' And I got him a glass from Crawford, though, by George, sir, Crawford grudged it; he didn't see the sentiment of the thing, sir, and when I tried to explain it, he said I was welcome to the cork.” “Capital tale for an advertisement of the brandy,” said Harwood. Then the doctor with many smiles hastened to spread abroad the story of the considerate behaviour of his patient, and Harwood was left to continue his twilight meditations alone once more. He was sitting in his deck-chair on the ship's bridge, and he could but dimly hear the laughter and the chat of the passengers far astern. He did not remain for long in this dreamy mood of his, for Mrs. Crawford and Daireen Gerald were seen coming up the rail, and he hastened to meet them. The girl was very pale but smiling, and in the soft twilight she seemed very lovely. “I am so glad to see you,” he said, as he settled a chair for her. “I feared a great many things when you did not appear to-day.” “We must not talk too much,” said Mrs. Crawford, who had not expected to find Mr. Harwood alone in this place. “I brought Miss Gerard up here in order that she might not be subjected to the gaze of those colonists on the deck; a little quiet is what she needs to restore her completely from her shock.” “It was very foolish, I am afraid you think--very foolish of me to behave as I did,” said Daireen, with a faint little smile. “But I had been asleep in my cabin, and I--I was not so strong as I should have been. The next time I hope I shall not be so very stupid.” “My dear Miss Gerald,” said Harwood, “you behaved as a heroine. There is no woman aboard the ship--Mrs. Crawford of course excepted--who would have had courage to do what you did.” “And he,” said the girl somewhat eagerly--“he--is he really safe?--has he recovered? Tell me all, Mr. Harwood.” “No, no!” cried Mrs. Crawford, interposing. “You must not speak a word about him. Do you want to be thrown into a fresh state of excitement, my dear, now that you are getting on so nicely?” “But I am more excited remaining as I am in doubt about that poor man. Was he a sailor, Mr. Harwood?” “It appears-not,” said Harwood. “The doctor, however, is returning; he will tell all that is safe to be told.”